Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Children Entering the Care System

Monday 20 January 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister highlights a 21% increase in children entering the care system since 2010
  • Minister emphasizes multi-tiered approach focusing on keeping families together and improving care supply
  • Minister underscores the importance of permanence and mentions special guardianships and kinship care

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lucy Allan Con Telford
Children & Families
Context

Concern about increasing number of children in care since 2010.

Question

The Minister is concerned about a 21% increase in children entering the care system since 2010. She mentions a multi-tiered approach that aims to keep families together and improve supply of various types of care, including fostering. The Minister also highlights the importance of permanence.

Answer from Michelle Donelan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families)

Absolutely. The system needs to be child-focused. In my letter to local authorities last week, I highlighted other forms of permanence including kinship care and special guardianships in particular. However, 41% of children with a placement order have not been placed in an adoption setting within 18 months, which is unacceptable.

Answered
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Q2 Steve Reed Labour (Co-op) Croydon North
Children & Families
Context

Concern over unregulated hostels where vulnerable children are placed without proper support.

Question

Children in the care system are being placed in unregulated hostels, with recent cases highlighting risks. A young person on bail for murder was placed with a victim of child trafficking involved in drug dealing. The questioner argues these placements put children at risk and calls for regulation now.

Answer from Michelle Donelan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families)

We are committed to getting this right. I am working with Ofsted, local authorities, and the Children's Commissioner. All placements must be suitable as per current requirements; under-16s should not reside in unregistered settings where care is provided, which are illegal.

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